Owning property in Costa Rica is much more than just having a deed. Possession is nine-tenths of the law in this country.
Most people believe it is a simple procedure to buy a piece of land in Costa Rica. One just needs to have an attorney check to see if the catastro, or plat plan, exists in the Registro National, Costa Rica’s national registry of properties, and check to see if the property is free and clear of liabilities and other encumbrances, then sign a legal sales document to transfer the property from the seller to the purchaser.
In reality, there is much more involved if you want to be sure your rights are protected.
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